☰
✕

Units and Measurement
Question
Wired Faculty App

Precise measurements of physical quantities are a need of science. For example, to ascertain the speed of an aircraft, one must have an accurate method to find its positions at closely separated instants of time. This was the actual motivation behind the discovery of radar in World War II. Think of different examples in modern science
where precise measurements of length, time, mass etc. are needed. Also, wherever you can, give a quantitative idea of the precision needed.

Answer

It is indeed very true that precise measurements of physical quantities are essential for the development of science.
For example, ultra-shot laser pulses (time interval ∼ 10–15 s) are used to measure time intervals in several physical and chemical processes.
X-ray spectroscopy is used to determine the inter atomic separation or inter-planer spacing. 
The development of mass spectrometer makes it possible to measure the mass of atoms precisely.

Sponsor Area

Some More Questions From Units and Measurement Chapter

Does the numerical factor in the quantitative measurement depend on the system of unit used?

Is one unit sufficient to measure a physical quantity?

Can a physical quantity have two or more units? Give example.

What are fundamental quantities?

How many fundamental quantities are there in mechanics?

How many fundamental quantities are there in Physics?

Name the fundamental quantities of mechanics.

Name the different system of units in mechanics that are internationally accepted.